In this career spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Afeeya Akhand, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). Afeeya discusses her work on Australia-South Korea relations and shares her thoughts on the importance of diversity in international affairs and national security.
Afeeya Akhand is a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute where she focuses on Indo-Pacific security, Australia-South Korea relations and climate change. Afeeya has spoken at domestic and international conferences and her work has been featured by SBS News, The Mandarin, The Strategist and more. She is an advocate for the inclusion of traditionally marginalised groups in international affairs and national security with a focus on racial and gender equity. Afeeya sits on the ANU National Security College Youth Council and is the Secretary of Women in International Security - Australia. She graduated with a Masters in International Security specialising in Korean language from the University of Sydney and Bachelors in Laws with Honours and Finance from the Australian National University.
How has your background and set of international experiences shaped your perspectives on the priorities and challenges of Australia’s foreign policy?
Like many children of migrants, I was raised in a multicultural and bilingual household. My parents migrated from Bangladesh and raised me and my siblings in Newcastle, NSW. We also spent a few years living in Singapore when I was a young child. As an adult, I spent a few months developing my Korean skills by studying at a language school in Seoul. My exposure to different cultures, countries and languages from a young age helped to engender my respect for the diversity of our broader region. These experiences have significantly shaped my attitudes to how Australia should pursue its foreign policy aims. Particularly, I am a strong advocate for building Australia’s intercultural and multilingual competencies. Leveraging the existing skills of our diaspora communities is one part of the solution, but alone is not enough. As a country we need to invest more into foreign language learning and in the creation of opportunities for Australians to live, work and study in the wider region. The recently-announced reforms to DFAT’s New Colombo Plan is a promising starting point.
Your research into South Korean foreign policy is fascinating. In your opinion, what are some of the unique challenges and opportunities in the Australia-South Korea partnership, particularly in the areas of critical technology?
A key challenge facing the Australia-South Korea bilateral relationship is its underperforming nature when compared with Australia’s engagement with other key regional partners like India, Indonesia and Japan. This is because the bilateral relationship with South Korea has traditionally been focused on building trade and people-to-people ties through migration. One opportunity for the bilateral relationship is in the area of critical technologies. On the backdrop of geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia and South Korea are respectively focusing on building technological security. This includes developing sovereign technological capabilities, decreasing dependence on Chinese-made technologies and building resilient technological supply chains. As like-minded democracies, Australia and South Korea should bolster technological cooperation, which is the topic of my forthcoming ASPI report to be released in December this year.
How does South Korea’s geopolitical stance influence its partnerships and alliances, and what role does Australia play in this dynamic?
Under the current Yoon administration, South Korea has adopted an increasingly forward-leaning role in regional and global affairs. South Korea’s desire to become a Global Pivotal State is reflected in policy documents such as its recent Indo-Pacific and national security strategies. Accordingly, South Korea is building closer ties with like-minded regional counterparts such as Japan, as seen through the South Korea-Japan-US trilateral which was unveiled last year. Despite our differences in culture and language, Australia and South Korea have a lot in common and a lot to offer to each other. We are both democracies committed to upholding the US-led rules-based-order. Together, the two countries can build strategic engagement through leveraging the strength of our existing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
You have been recognised for your work in promoting diversity in international affairs. What specific strategies do you think institutions should adopt to better reflect cultural diversity in their leadership roles?
Targets aimed at elevating cultural and racial diversity in all levels of an organisation, including leadership, are a must. Targets are an effective method to overcome systemic barriers that limit the progression of marginalised groups, as seen through the implementation of gender targets in many Australian institutions. The Australian Public Service has led by example in this regard through the implementation of a 24% target for cultural diversity in senior leadership earlier this year. Institutions also need to collate more robust data relating to the racial, cultural and linguistic makeup of workplaces to support the implementation of evidence-based diversity programs such as leadership targets and sponsorship programs.
What has been your greatest professional achievement so far?
Receiving the opportunity to research and write about my key area of interest, the Australia-South Korea relationship, has been my greatest professional achievement so far. I released my first report on this topic as a research intern at ASPI last year, and I am very privileged to be working on a report this year focusing on technological cooperation between the two countries. I originally developed my interest in South Korean foreign policy during my Master’s degree at the University of Sydney where I wrote my capstone dissertation about the cultural diplomacy approaches of Asian middle powers including South Korea. Having the opportunity to explore South Korea’s engagement with regional counterparts including Australia in a professional capacity at ASPI is definitely a dream come true.
What attributes do you think make a great leader? How can young professionals hone these attitudes for their career?
Being a great leader is about making sure to leave the gates open for those who are less experienced than you. There is no point in gatekeeping and being self-serving. We should create an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competition, especially in a field like international affairs where opportunities have been limited to a privileged few for so long.
Finally, what advice would you give to students and young professionals looking to pursue a career in international affairs, especially those from traditionally marginalised backgrounds?
Find a professional sponsor. A sponsor, in contrast to a mentor, is someone who will actively advocate for you and introduce you to their networks. If you are from a background that is often marginalised in international affairs, a sponsor is an invaluable way to overcome barriers that you may face in the field of international affairs, whether that be due to personal traits such as your gender, race or sexuality.
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